touch

/tʌtʃ/

noun

1.

the sense by which the texture and other qualities of objects can be experienced when they come in contact with a part of the body surface, esp the tips of the fingers related adjectives haptic tactile tactual

2.

the quality of an object as perceived by this sense; feel; feeling

3.

the act or an instance of something coming into contact with the body

4.

a gentle push, tap, or caress

5.

a small amount; hint: a touch of sarcasm

6.

a noticeable effect; influence: the house needed a woman's touch

7.

any slight stroke or mark: with a touch of his brush he captured the scene

8.

characteristic manner or style: the artist had a distinctive touch

9.

a detail of some work, esp a literary or artistic work: she added a few finishing touches to the book

10.

a slight attack, as of a disease: a touch of bronchitis

11.

a specific ability or facility: the champion appeared to have lost his touch

12.

the state of being aware of a situation or in contact with someone: to get in touch with someone

13.

the state of being in physical contact

14.

a trial or test (esp in the phrase put to the touch)

15.

(rugby, soccer) the area outside the touchlines, beyond which the ball is out of play (esp in the phrase in touch)

16.

(archaic)

an official stamp on metal indicating standard purity

the die stamp used to apply this mark Now usually called hallmark

17.

a scoring hit in competitive fencing

18.

an estimate of the amount of gold in an alloy as obtained by use of a touchstone

19.

the technique of fingering a keyboard instrument

20.

the quality of the action of a keyboard instrument with regard to the relative ease with which the keys may be depressed: this piano has a nice touch

21.

(bell-ringing) any series of changes where the permutations are fewer in number than for a peal

22.

(slang)

the act of asking for money as a loan or gift, often by devious means

the money received in this way

a person asked for money in this way: he was an easy touch

verb

23.

(transitive) to cause or permit a part of the body to come into contact with

24.

(transitive) to tap, feel, or strike, esp with the hand: don't touch the cake!

25.

to come or cause (something) to come into contact with (something else): their hands touched briefly, he touched the match to the fuse

26.

(intransitive) to be in contact

27.

(transitive; usually used with a negative) to take hold of (a person or thing), esp in violence: don't touch the baby!

Touch and go (adj.) is recorded from 1812, apparently from the name of a tag-like game, first recorded 1650s. Touch football is first attested 1933. Touch-me-not (1590s) translates Latin noli-me-tangere.

n.

c.1300, from Old French touche "a touching," from touchier (see touch (v.)). Meaning "slight attack" (of an illness, etc.) is recorded from 1660s. Sense of "skill or aptitude in some topic" is first recorded 1927. Soft touch "person easily manipulated" is recorded from 1940.